Method for branding containers

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for branding medication are provided, including, a first capper system that caps a first medication container with a first cap of a first branding including first identification of a third party supplier of one of the prescription and medication order; a second capper system that caps a second medication container with a second cap of a second branding including second identification of another third party supplier of the one of the prescription and medication order; a transport system that transports the first and second medication containers; and a control system that controls the transport system to transport the first and second medication containers based on customer information, and controls the one of the first capper system and the second capper system to cap the first and second medication containers with one of the first and second caps.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/873,959, filed on Oct. 17, 2007, which claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/852,737,filed Oct. 19, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/874,340, filed Dec. 12, 2006. All of these prior applications arehereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates generally to systems and methodsfor dispensing pharmaceutical and/or medical products and brandingpharmaceutical and/or medical containers, such as bottles and/orpackages.

BACKGROUND

In mail service pharmacies and large retail pharmacies, prescriptiondrugs are dispensed in high volume. For such services, automatic pilldispensing systems can be used to dispense prescription drugs and labelpill containers. The containers can then be provided to a patient forwhom the prescription was written.

Automatic pill dispensing systems can require a large infrastructure anda health care entity that provides prescriptions to patients may desireto contract out the filling of prescriptions. Accordingly, the entityhired to fill these prescriptions, such as pharmacy or pharmacy benefitsmanagement (PBM) entity may need to fill various prescriptions formultiple health care entities and may therefore need to brand thevarious prescriptions differently.

A known automatic pill dispensing system 100 is described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,771,657, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,657 patent, as shown in FIG. 1,orders (e.g., orders to fill prescriptions) are received by a hostcomputer 9 which forwards the orders to a distributed computer systemthat can include a central computer called a Pharmacy AutomationController 10 (PAC). PAC 10 maintains an order file of the informationabout each prescription to be filled that can include information neededto fill each prescription. The order file can, for example, be used toprepare a prescription label for each bottle/container (hereinafterbottle). The order file can also be used to facilitate printingliterature that can be placed in a shipping container with thebottle(s). PAC 10 can also update the order file to maintain a record ofthe current status of each prescription being filled as it progressesthrough the automated system.

PAC 10 can control a set of Print, Apply and Load (PAL) stations 14which print prescription bottle labels, apply the labels to bottles, andload the labeled bottles onto bottle carriers that preferably receivethe bottles in scheduled locations. PAC 10 can also control a carrierconveyer system 21 that carries the bottle carriers to different partsof system 100, and one or more automatic drug dispensing machines 23that dispense tablets and/or capsules into the bottles in the bottlecarriers as they are carried by conveyer system 21. In addition, PAC 10controls bottle cappers 25 that apply caps to the bottles, and OCP(order consolidation and packaging) stations 29 that unload bottles fromthe carriers and place them in shipping containers corresponding to apatient order. Further, PAC 10 can control literature printers 31 whichprint literature, for each prescription order, that can be enclosed inan envelope. Finally, PAC 10 can utilize bar code data that identifiesthe prescription order. The bar code can show through a window in theenvelope. Envelopes can be placed on a literature conveyer 34 whichcarries the envelopes from the literature printers 31 to the OCPstations 29.

Conveyer system 21 carries the bottles in the carriers from PAL stations14 through the automatic drug dispensing machines 23 to bottle cappers25, and then from bottle cappers to OCP stations 29. Conveyer system 21also carries empty carriers back to PAL stations 14. From bottle cappers25, conveyers 56 feed the carriers onto an endless conveyer loop 71which transports, for example, four carriers of a rank to one of, say,six OCP stations 29. Other numbers of OCP stations 29 can also beutilized. OCP stations 29 each also have a literature dispensingmechanism, which inserts the printed literature into each shippingcontainer with the filled and capped prescription bottles.

As shown in FIG. 2, bottles to be automatically filled with theprescription drugs are introduced to the automated system by hoppers 37,which receive the bottles in bulk form and automatically feed thebottles to unscramblers 39. In one embodiment, one of the hoppers 37 andone of the unscramblers 39 can be for large bottles (e.g., 160 cc), andthe remaining hoppers and unscramblers can be for small bottles (e.g.,110 cc). The small bottle size can preferably accommodate a majority ofthe automatically filled prescriptions. The bottles are directed to PALstations 14 on bottle conveyers 41 and 43, for example, one for largebottles and one for small bottles.

Conveyers 45, under control by PAC 10, carry the bottle carriers fromthe four PAL stations 14 to carrier buffers at the entrances of the fourautomatic drug dispensing machines 23 in which the tablets or capsulesof the prescriptions are automatically dispensed into the prescriptionbottles under the control of PAC 10. Because of the organizationprovided by the carriers, the bottles are arranged into four columnsapproaching each automatic dispensing machine 23. Since there are fourautomatic dispensing machines 23, 16 parallel prescription bottlecolumns can approach the dispensing machines. In this embodiment, thefour automatic drug dispensing machines each have 384 drug dispensersarranged four columns wide and 96 rows deep to provide a total of 1,536pill dispensers. The automatic drug dispensing machines are similar tothose described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,305, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Each dispensing laneis divided into 32 buffer assemblies, each containing twelve drugdispensers oriented six on each side of a conveyer within the dispensingmachine.

The carrier will be released by PAL station 14 onto a conveyer 45 whichcarries the carrier loaded with the labeled empty prescription bottlesto an automatic dispensing machine 23, of which there are four, one foreach PAL station 14. When a carrier moves out of the last row positionin a dispensing machine, all of the prescription bottles in that bottlecarrier should be filled and a conveyer 56 transports the prescriptionbottles now filled with the prescriptions to a bottle capper 25.

Bottle quality assurance area 109 has several stations at whichpharmacists can scan the bar code on the bottles and visually inspectthe contents of the bottles. The scan of the bottle bar code will bringup a display on the pharmacist's terminal which preferably includes allthe information regarding the particular prescription and order. Suchinformation can include, for example, the drug name, and instructionswhich identify the reason for the verification. All of the bottles thatpass this inspection can be inserted or reinserted by the pharmacist ona bottle stream conveyer 111 to send the inspected bottles to the BSP(bottle sorting and packaging) station 112. Conveyer 108 leads to a starwheel or other diverter mechanism 114 which, optionally under thecontrol of a controller for BSP station 112, deposits the bottle in abottle stream conveyer 116 leading to the bottle quality assurance area109 or into a bottle stream conveyer 118 leading to BSP station 112.

If the literature pack is on conveyer 34, but because of failure of thebar code reader (not shown) or the literature sorting mechanism (notshown), does not get diverted at BSP station 112, conveyer 34 will carrythe literature package to package quality assurance area 96 where theliterature pack can be manually added to the package. If, because of amalfunction, a literature envelope is not deflected by a deflector 89(FIG. 3), because of, for example, an improper bar code on the envelope,the envelope will continue on conveyer 34 to the end of the conveyer andbe dumped into a receptacle at the package quality assurance station 96.If the bag does not contain a literature pack, then the bag is divertedinto a tote (not shown) which will then be transported by a conveyer 34to the package quality assurance station 96, where the shippingcontainer will be assembled with the literature pack manually 137.

As shown in the OCP station 29 of FIG. 3, the four carriers of a rankare first received in a carrier buffer 75 from which they are loadedonto a turntable 77. An RFID tag reader (not shown) verifies that thecorrect carriers are in place on turntable 77, which selectively rotatesthe carriers into a position to have the bottles removed by robotic arm79. OCP station 29 also contains equipment 91 for packing literatureinto shipping containers, which take the form of bags 83, along with theprescription bottles of a given order. OCP station 29 also includes abagging machine 181 which presents the bags for successive orders to beloaded in sequence at a loading position. Bagging machine 181 can printa bar code identifying the order directly on each bag 83. The printeddata may include the mailing address to which the shipping container isto be sent.

Bag 83 is shown at the loading position with its mouth open. The openingof the mouth of bag 83 can be accomplished by a blower (not shown)provided as part of bagging machine 181. Conveyer 34 brings envelopes 85containing literature to be packed in shipping containers to OCP station29 in the reverse sequence that the patient orders are to be packed atthat OCP station 29 for a given rank of carriers. At OCP stations 29,literature conveyor 34 can be in the form of a literature sortationsystem of the type used in mail sortation by the U.S. Post Office. Theliterature sortation system can include a pair of belts 88 that pass theenvelopes along from station to station. Deflector 89 can optionally belocated between each pair of belts 88, and be controlled by the OCPstation controller to deflect selected literature envelopes into aliterature dispensing mechanism 91.

When a rank of carriers is directed to a given OCP station 29 by PAC 10from bottle cappers 25, PAC 10 can send an unload message to thecontroller for the OCP station 29. The unload message can contain anindication of the sequence that the orders are to be unloaded from therank of carriers at the station, as well as containing the informationas to the scheduled position of the bottles of each order in the fourcarriers of the rank of carriers to be unloaded. At the same time thatPAC 10 sends an unload message to the controller of the OCP station 29,it can send a corresponding autopublish message to printers 31. Themessage can contain the information to be printed for the completeorders contained in the rank of carriers being sent to an OCP station29. The autopublish message will also contain the sequence in which thecorresponding orders are to be unloaded at the OCP station 29. Inresponse to the auto publish message, one of the printers 31 will printliterature for the orders and deposit the literature packs for theorders on literature conveyer 34 in reverse order from that in which theorders are to be unloaded at the OCP station 29.

Each literature pack is preferably enclosed in an envelope having a diecut window through which a bar code is readable by a bar code reader 87.The bar code can be printed by an appropriate printer 31 to identify theorder for which the literature pack is printed. As the envelopescontaining literature packs are carried past the OCP station 29 in theliterature sortation system, the bar code readable through the window ineach envelope will be read by a bar code reader 87, that can verify thatthe bar code coincides with an order in the unload message received bythe controller for OCP station 29. The controller for OCP station 29will then cause deflector 89 to deflect the envelope into literaturedispensing mechanism 91. Since the conveyor brings the literatureenvelopes to an OCP station 29 in the reverse sequence that thecorresponding patient order is to be packed at the packing station, theenvelopes will be packed into the dispensing mechanism in that sequence.When bag 83 is ready to be packed at an OCP station 29, literaturedispensing mechanism 91 first inserts a literature envelope into the bag83 where it will be positioned at one side of the bag (by, e.g.,gravity). This effect is achieved by orienting the bag 83 at a slighttilted position at bagging machine 181. After the literature has beeninserted, robotic arm 79 unloads the bottles of the order from thescheduled positions in the four carriers on the turntable in accordancewith the unload message. Robotic arm 79 preferably includes a bar codereader so that each time a bottle is lifted out of a carrier by roboticarm 79, the label on the bottle is read and verified.

The prescription bottles are then loaded into the bag 83 by a bottleloading mechanism 93. When the shipping containers 83 have been verifiedand filled with a literature pack and with a patient's order, the bag issealed and dropped onto a conveyer 95 which carries the sealed shippingcontainer to a mailing area where the bag is read and logged and thenmailed to the customer. If the bag 83 does not contain a literaturepack, then the bag is diverted into a tote 99 which will then betransported by a conveyer 101 to the package quality assurance station96 where the shipping container will be assembled with the literaturepack manually.

An alternative automated prescription filling system and method withautomated labeling and packaging system and method and automated orderconsolidation system/method in U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,512 issued to Rice etal., which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.One embodiment of the U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,512 patent is a system thatincludes an order consolidation station configured to receive at leastone bottle containing pills individually counted and/or at least onepackage containing pharmaceutical products without having beendesignated for any of the orders when the package was created and/or atleast one literature pack optionally including patient specificinformation. The order consolidation station is further configured tocombine automatically the received bottle and/or package and/orliterature pack into a container to be sent to a recipient including,for example, mail order pharmacies, wholesalers and/or central filldealers for subsequent distribution or sale including retailerdistribution or sale. The bottle is specifically designated for theorder, and the order generally includes at least one prescription forthe package.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,899 issued to McErlean, et al., which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes analternative embodiment of a system and method of placing a printed labelon a bag. A first plurality of rollers can feed one or more bags, and asecond plurality of rollers can feed one or more labels. Additionally,for example, a tamp pad can place the label on the bag. As shown in FIG.4, bagger 181 can be used with either or both of system 100 and ALPSsystem 250.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 2, and shows exemplary aspects of theautomated pill dispensing system 310 shown in FIG. 4. In operation, oneor more literature packs can be printed on a printer 31, and sent to acollator 32 for collation into individual literature packs. More thanone collator 32 can optionally be used. Once literature packs arecollated, they can travel, for example, on a standard pinchbelt conveyor33 to a literature pack sorter 35, where they are sorted into literaturepack batches. Although two literature pack sorters 35 are shown, anynumber of literature pack sorters can be utilized to suit, for example,cost and/or volume considerations. On command from, for example, an OCPstation 29, the literature pack batches can optionally be manuallytransferred from the one or more sorters 35 to a dispatch unit 36.Again, any number of dispatch units can be utilized to accommodate, forexample, manufacturing, facility size and/or cost requirements orconstraints. Dispatch units 36 can feed the literature packs to an OCPstation 29.

Some systems, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, can also include,for example, a PAC router, between the Host Computer 9 and the PAC 10,that can divert work between various dispensing pharmacies. The PACrouter can include a smart scheduler that can determine, for example,based on cost, where to route an order. The PAC router can achieve, forexample, load distribution and/or matching of an order with anappropriate dispensing pharmacy.

We have determined, however, that the above systems lack the ability andhave never considered the functionality of branding the bottle, package,and/or container with indicia corresponding to a plurality of partieswhen the dispensing systems dispense medication and/or pharmaceuticalsfor multiple pharmacy brands and/or multiple pharmacy health benefitplans, and the like.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, an automated dispensing system (ADS) can receiveempty containers (e.g., bottles, boxes, packages, etc). These containerscan be, for example, labeled with a uniquely identifiable customerlabel. The labeled containers can be loaded into a carrier that cariescontainers. In alternative embodiments, a carrier is not required to beused to transport the containers, and any conventional transport devicemay be used. The carrier can be transported to and from various stationsby a transport system. The container carrier can travel through, forexample, a solid pharmaceutical dispensing system where all or some ofthe containers in the carrier can be filled with a specific quantity ofpharmaceutical product. The carrier can be transported to a capping andbranding station where the containers can be capped and branded. Invarious embodiments, the caps can be pre-branded, blank, or acombination of pre-branded and blank. Where at least some of thecontainers are branded with blank caps, a carrier and/or container canbe transported to a branding station that can brand caps with caplabeling information (e.g., logos, graphics, artwork, text, etc.) thatcan be specific to each cap. A cap can be, for example, a cover, a lid,a top, a plug, a stopper, or any object used to partially or totallyseal and/or close a container.

In some embodiments, a system for branding at least one medicationcontainer associated with at least one of a prescription and medicationorder is provided. The system including: a first capper system that capsat least one first medication container with at least one first cap ofat least a first branding including first identification of at least athird party supplier of the at least one of the prescription andmedication order; a second capper system that caps at least one secondmedication container with at least one second cap of at least a secondbranding including second identification of at least another third partysupplier of the at least one of the prescription and medication order; atransport system that transports the at least one first and secondmedication containers; and a control system that controls the transportsystem to transport the at least one first and second medicationcontainers to one of the first capper system and the second cappersystem based on customer information associated with the least one firstand second medication containers, and controls the one of the firstcapper system and the second capper system to cap the at least one ofthe first and second medication containers with one of the first andsecond caps of one of the at least first and second branding based onthe customer information. In some embodiments, at least one of the firstcapper system and the second capper system comprises a capper selectingsystem that selects and provides caps; a capper application system thatreceives caps from the capper selecting system and caps the caps on tomedical containers.

In some embodiments, a system for branding at least one medicationcontainer associated with at least one of a prescription and medicationorder is provided. The system including a capper system that caps atleast one first medication container with at least one first cap of atleast a first branding including first identification of at least athird party supplier of the at least one of the prescription andmedication order, and a second medication container with at least onesecond cap of at least a second branding including second identificationof at least another third party supplier of another of the at least oneof the prescription and medication order; a transport system thattransports the at least one first and second medication containers and acontrol system that controls the transport system to transport the atleast one first and second medication containers to said capper systembased on customer information associated with at least one of the firstand second medication containers, and controls the capper system cap theat least one of the first and second medication containers with one ofthe first and second caps of one of the at least first and secondbranding based on the customer information.

In some embodiments, a method for branding at least one medicationcontainer associated with at least one of a prescription and medicationorder is provided. The method including transporting at least one firstmedication container and second medication container to one of a firstcapper system and a second capper system based on customer informationassociated with the at least one first and second medication containers;and capping at least of the at least one first and second medicationcontainers with one of a cap with first branding and a cap with secondbranding based on the customer information.

In some embodiments, a method for branding at least one medicationcontainer associated with at least one of a prescription and medicationorder is provided. The method including transporting at least one firstmedication container and second medication container to a capper system;and capping at least one of the first and second medication containerswith one of a cap of first branding and a cap of second branding basedon customer information associated with the at least one first andsecond medication containers, wherein the first medication container andsecond medication container are capped with caps of different branding.

In some embodiments, a transport system can include conveyors; acontainer carrier can holds various medication containers; customerinformation corresponds with containers based on their location in acontainer carrier; branding information includes graphics; brandinginformation can be blank; and the branding of a blank cap can includeaffixing a branded label to the cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-5 are diagrams illustrating automated pill dispensing systemsthat can use some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for filling, capping, and branding a bottlein accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 6A illustrates various alternative methods for capping and brandingillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7-8 are diagrams illustrating automated pill dispensing systems inaccordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter

FIG. 9 illustrates a system that can be used for branding bottle caps inaccordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 10 illustrates a peel bar in peel and bypass positions inaccordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 11 illustrates a more detailed view of a system that can be usedfor branding bottle caps in accordance with some embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter.

FIG. 12 illustrates a vacuum belt system that can be used in accordancewith some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 13 illustrates a container/carrier handling station that can beused in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subjectmatter.

FIG. 14 illustrates an elevation layout of a portion of branding systemthat can be used in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosedsubject matter.

FIG. 15 illustrates a drawing of a photograph of a system that can beused for branding bottle caps in accordance with some embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter.

FIG. 16 illustrates a drawing of a photograph of a different view of thesystem illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 17 illustrates three views of a bottle carrier that can be used inaccordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIGS. 18-18A illustrates systems than can be used for capping andbranding in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subjectmatter.

FIG. 19 illustrates a method that can be used for cap verification inaccordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an OCP station that can be used inaccordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 21 illustrates a subsystem of an OCP station in accordance withsome embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIGS. 22-23 illustrate methods for branding, verification, and/orquality assurance in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosedsubject matter.

FIGS. 24-30 illustrate various alternative methods for branding,verification, and/or quality assurance in accordance with someembodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and to the arrangements of the componentsset forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced andcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the invention be regarded as including equivalentconstructions to those described herein insofar as they do not departfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For example, the specific sequence of the described process may bealtered so that certain processes are conducted in parallel orindependent, with other processes, to the extent that the processes arenot dependent upon each other. Thus, the specific order of stepsdescribed herein is not to be considered implying a specific sequence ofsteps to perform the process. Other alterations or modifications of theabove processes are also contemplated. For example, furtherinsubstantial approximations of the process and/or algorithms are alsoconsidered within the scope of the processes described herein.

In addition, features illustrated or described as part of one embodimentcan be used on other embodiments to yield a still further embodiment.Additionally, certain features may be interchanged with similar devicesor features not mentioned yet which perform the same or similarfunctions. It is therefore intended that such modifications andvariations are included within the totality of the present invention.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, we have determinedthat a pharmacy or other entity, such as a pharmacy benefits management(PBM) entity like the assignee of the present application, Medco HealthSolutions, may desire to apply a variety of differently branded caps tobottles. This may be done, for example, to solicit new business byoffering mail order prescription dispensing services to other healthcare entities and may include providing prescription services tohospitals, clinics, retail or chain pharmacies, international markets,prisons, etc. The customer company's brand may be prominent on all itemsreceived by the patient (prescriptions, notices, mailings, etc.), whilethe pharmacy name may be transparent unless, for example, it is requiredby regulatory agencies to be displayed.

To, for example, enable a pharmacy or PBM to fill and brand product forvarious third parties, some embodiments of the disclosed subject matteradvantageously provide third party dispensing (3PD) systems and methods.These systems and methods can include branding systems, branding items(e.g., branding initiatives), branding methods, and verification and/orquality assurance, as described below in more detail.

In some embodiments, when a patient's doctor is called for aprescription consultation, a pharmacist may mention the 3PD name ratherthan then pharmacy's name. The call or contact can be taken in by, forexample, branded party's 800 phone number, electronic communications, orother order method, thus identifying the branded partner. Alternatively,the order may be forwarded from the third party. Many suchprescriptions, possibly for various third party entities, can be filledin accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

As shown in FIG. 6, an automated dispensing system (ADS) can receive, at610, empty bottles from, for example, a bottle unscrambling system.These bottles can be, for example, tagged, at 620, with a uniquelyidentifiable customer label. The labeled bottles can be loaded, at 630,into a carrier that caries bottles arranged in a grid of rows andcolumns. In alternative embodiments, a carrier is not required to beused to transport the bottle and/or container, and any conventionaltransport device may be used. The carrier can be transported to and fromvarious stations by a transport system such as, for example, a spooldriven conveyor. The carrier can have a tag, such as, for example, anintelligent recognition tag (e.g., active RFID, bar code, etc.) foridentifying, tracking, and routing of the carrier. The bottle carriercan travel through, for example, a solid pharmaceutical dispensingsystem where all or some of the bottles in the carrier can be filled, at640, with a specific quantity of pharmaceutical product.

The bottle carrier can be transported to a capping and branding stationwhere the bottles can be capped and branded, at 650. The caps can bepre-branded, blank, or a combination of pre-branded and blank. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, in some embodiments, all bottles canbe capped with blank caps, at 651, and some or all of the bottles can bebranded with caps which have various pre-printed branding information,at 652. In other embodiments, all bottles can be capped, at 653, withvarious pre-branded caps. In such embodiments, no further branding maybe necessary. In still other embodiments, bottles can capped, at 654,with a mix of blank caps and pre-branded caps and some or all of thebottles capped with blank caps can be branded, at 655. When bottles arecapped, at 650, the caps can be singulated, oriented, and applied withpredictable torque to each bottle. In various embodiments, selection ofcap branding, selection of caps, affixing of caps to contains, printingof labels, affixing labels to caps, printing on caps, and/or fillingcontainers with product can occur or various orders.

In embodiments, for example, where at least some of the bottles arebranded with blank caps, a carrier and/or bottle and/or container can betransported to a branding station that can brand caps, at 652 or 655,with cap labeling information (e.g., logos, graphics, artwork, text,etc.) that can be specific to each cap. A cap can be, for example, acover, a lid, a top, a plug, a stopper, or any object used to partiallyor totally seal and/or close a container. A branding station caninclude, for example, a printing system that can print the desiredlabeling information on adhesive backed label web. A column of thelabels can be transferred to a vacuum belt assembly that can, forexample, change its lateral spacing and apply the labels to the bottlesin the carrier. In various embodiments, various of the stations and/oractions can be combined and/or separated and the actions illustrated inFIG. 6 can be performed in various orders. For example, capping andbranding can occur at different stations. Also, in some embodiments, thecaps can be branded before being applied to the bottles, while in otherembodiments, the caps can be branded after being applied to the bottles.

Some embodiments can include verifying that a branded cap is capped onthe correct bottle by using, for example, a bar code, a vision system,and/or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). In some embodiments, it ispossible that a verification process will determine that an error hasbeen found. When this occurs, it is of benefit to provide systems andmethods that can remedy the situation. Some embodiments can fix thebottle by, for example, removing the incorrect cap and applying a newand corrected cap or label and/or by rescheduling a prescription. Someembodiments for correcting mistakes can be combined with systems andmethods that, for example, apply caps and labels. Some embodiments canbe either automated, manual, or various combinations of the two. Forexample, some embodiments may require additional inspection by medicalpersonnel such as a pharmacist or by other trained personnel that arecapable of inspecting the containers for correctly branded caps. Inaddition, in further alternative embodiments, instead of, or in additionto, the cap being branded, the container/bottle may alternatively bebranded using the techniques and process described herein by eitherprinting on the container and/or utilizing pre-branded containers. Forexample, various branding information can be applied around the topportion of a bottle and/or container and/or on the bottom of a bottleand/or container.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in some embodiments, a brandingsystem 70 can be located, for example, between bottle cappers 25 and OCPstations 29. In some embodiments, capping and/or branding, at 650 ofFIG. 6, can be performed, for example, by bottle cappers 25 and brandingsystem 70. For example, with reference to FIG. 6A, capping, 651, 653,and 654 can be performed by bottle capper 25 and branding, at 652 and655 can be performed by branding system 70. In other embodiments, bottlecappers 25 and branding system 70 can be integrated as one system.

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment 900 of a branding system 70 that canbe used, for example, to print and apply labels for branding caps and/orthe containers associated therewith. As indicated above, alternativeembodiments include utilizing pre-printed branded caps and/or bottles,or printing on the caps/bottle during the dispensing process. Brandingsystem 900 can process a label web 901 that includes die cut cap labels,which can be, for example, in a 4×6 pattern and can be fed into brandingsystem 900 on continuous web 901 with tractor feed perforations. The web901 can be driven by tractor feeders 905. Web 901 can be fed through aprinter 910, through a take-up dancer assembly 902, and around a labelpeel bar assembly 904. Printer 910 may be a printer of various types,including for example, a laser printer, an inkjet printer, a thermalprinter, a solid ink printer, etc. A row of labels can be peeled by peelbar 904 and a vacuum belt assembly 920 can position a receiving head topick up the labels and transport them to position.

When the vacuum belt 920 is populated with labels, a bottle carrier 925can be lifted so that the bottles 926 make contact with an adhesive sideof the labels. The bottle carrier can be held in a carrier lift platform940 and can be raised by lift cylinders 945 and/or lift pins 946. Thepressure in a vacuum manifold can be reversed so that the labelspositively released from the vacuum belt assembly 920. The carrier 925,now carrying branding and capped bottles, can be lowered and dischargedonto a take away conveyor spur. The empty label web can be, for example,collected by a take-up reel 930.

In some embodiments, label positions can be removed before a web travelsacross the peel assembly 904. This can be achieved, for example, by adie punch 950 that can remove designated labels and web backingmaterial. The die punch 950 can punch out the labels so that no label isaffixed to various of the bottle caps and can be controlled on a perlabel or per row basis. In some embodiments, the peel operation can beaborted. For example, if the ID of a carrier does not match the bar codeof the label array that is being transferred onto the vacuum beltassembly 920, the label peel assembly operation can be aborted. One wayof accomplishing this is illustrated in FIG. 10. A peel assembly (e.g.,904 of FIG. 9) can be moved into, for example, a peel position 1010 or abypass position 1020.

When a carrier of array labels has been aborted, some embodiments canrecover. For example, additional label arrays can be removed until thecorrect label array for the current loader arrives. Another option is tore-print the correct labels for a carrier 925 that is currently loadedand possibly for carriers that are staged. The label web 901 can beadvanced and bypassed until the correct label array arrives at the peelassembly 904.

Some embodiments can allow a carrier 925 to pass through a brandingsystem without being branded. This may be done, for example, if acustomer does not want some or all of the caps to be branded, butbottles are being processed by, for example, system 900. This can bedone, for example, by putting the peel bar 904 in the bypass position,1020 of FIG. 10, or by pausing the label web 901 while a carrier 925 isbeing processed. Alternatively, an entire carrier can be bypassed byhaving that carrier skip the branding station 900.

Various branding stations 900 can be operated independently. When astation 900 is available for work, it can generate a message indicatingits availability to a carrier transport system. In addition, if anequipment or process alarm causes loss of operating capability, astation 900 can generate a message to a carrier transport systemreporting this condition. When a branding station 900 is off-line, adifferent branding station 900 can receive the balance of the workload.For example, a transport system can divert bottle carriers 925 there.

Branding stations 900 can process carriers at various speeds. Forexample, in some embodiments a branding station can have a cycle time of65 seconds or faster per carrier. In some embodiments, an ADS system canhave a throughput of 7700 bottles per hour an in cases where everycarrier is fully populated, this translates to 5.3 carrier per minute orone carrier every 61.3 seconds.

FIG. 11 illustrates a more detailed view of some embodiments a brandingsystem 900. A label web 901 can be fed from a printer 910 to an in-feedaccumulation system 1120. An entrance idler roller 1121 can be part ofin-feed accumulation system 1120. A vertical moving dancer roll 1122 canprovide accumulation of web stock between a printer 910 and an in-feedtractor drive roller 1130 to compensate for the possibly continuousin-feed from the printer 910 and intermittent out-feed created by labelapplication to a vacuum assembly belt 904. A series of sensors candetect the dancer roll 1122 position and control the in-feed/out-feedequilibrium of the web 901. The dancer roll 1122 can use acounter-balance to minimize web tension and inertial applied to the webas a result of its movements. In-feed tractor roller 1130 can be drivenin conjunction with a discharge tractor roller 1131 to control the web901 movement during vacuum belt label pick-up.

A punch and die system 950 can have, for example, four punch and diepositions aligned with four labels rows of labels on the web stock 901.The punch and die system 950, can punch out any or all of the positions.That is, in some embodiments, each punch can be operated independentlyof the others. A punch can completely remove the label from web and canhave, for example, a blow-off system to clear punched label from the diearea.

A punch can also or alternatively be used a vacuum system to remove thepunched labels. The vacuum and/or blow-off system can have anindependently regulated air pressure source or sources. Position sensorscan be included with a punch to, for example, indicate the successfulexecution of a punching operation. Each punch and die set can alsoinclude an alignment provision to ease replacement with new sets. Apunch label verification system 1140 can include, for example, a sensorfor each of the punches and sense and verify the removal of eachpunching operation. This sensor can be, for example, a photo type sensorwith cordsets.

In some embodiments, prior to a label peel operation, a sensor, such as,for example, a registration sensor 1145 and barcode reader, can be usedto position the label web with respect to the vacuum belt pucks 1150 forthe subsequent label application. For example, printed barcodes on thelabel web 901 (for each respective carrier) can be read to ensure theproper set of labels are applied to each carrier cap.

A peeling system, such as, for example an articulating peel bar 904 canstrip labels from the web 901 and transfer them to a series of vacuumpucks 1150 attached to vacuum belt drives. The label web 901 can bemoved in unison and in registration with the vacuum belt to provide areliable transfer of label to a puck. As discussed, two surfaces on thepeel bar 904 can provide a label strip function or a label bypassfunction. For example, a web passing over a sharp edged surface canstrip the labels; alternately a web passing over a rounded surface canpermit the label to remain adhered to the web substrate. A rotatingmovement can articulate the bar between the sharp edge and rounded edge.This movement can be provided by, for example, a pneumatic actuator withspeed control and stroke adjustment.

In some embodiments, air jets 1161 directed beneath the label transferposition can assist label placement onto the vacuum pucks 1150. This canbe accomplished using, for example, a blow tube and independentlyadjustable air pressure regulation can be provided.

Proper web tension over the peel bar 904 can be maintained with use of apressure regulated dancer roller of a web tensioning system 1170. Roller1171 can use, for example, linear motion or rotational motion. Afriction free/low friction pneumatic actuator can be used to provide theload to the dancer 1172. An independently regulated precision regulatorcan provide air pressure for this function. Sensors can detect dancer1172 movement and can identify either a broken or jammed web condition.

A driven discharge tractor roller 1131, which can be mechanicallycoupled to the in-feed tractor roller 1130, can provide positive webmovement and position. The tractor roller 1131 can be driven by, forexample, an appropriate Servo-Drive System. Used label web 901 can bere-wound on a spindle, which can use web tensioning control to maintaina uniform pressure between the rewind 1190 and the discharge tractorroller 1131. A sensing system can be used to determine when the rewindspindle at 1190 is full.

An embodiment of a vacuum belt 920, is illustrated in FIG. 12. A numberof these belts can be used in parallel. For example, for a carrier of 11rows and six columns, four parallel vacuum belts with six vacuum pucks1150 can be used to receive labels from the label web 901 and transportthem for deposit on the container caps in a carrier 925. Each belt cancarry a vacuum puck 1150 to deliver labels to each row of cappedcontainers in a container carrier 925. The parallel vacuum belts 920 canmove in unison, and can be mechanically connected to pass over the peelbar 904 where labels striped from the label web are applied to thevacuum pucks. After the labels are received, the belts can advance to aposition over the containers for transfer to the caps.

In some embodiments, a belt 920 can move axially from a first position(inline with the web label spacing) to a second position (inline withthe container spacing). Conveyor axial movement can be stopped with afixed mechanical stop and axial movement can contain speed control andsensors to indicate successful actuation. Some or all of the parallelbelts 920 can be driven, for example, by a common servo motor drive. Avacuum/pressure system can supply a vacuum belt 920 with vacuum pressureto hold labels to the vacuum pucks, then with positive pressure todeliver labels to the caps. Independent pressure and/or vacuumregulators can provide air pressure for these functions. The belt drivecan be provided with sensors for a homing function and travel limitalarms, such as home sensor 1201 and travel limit sensor 1202.

In some embodiments, carriers 925 can be transferred from a stagingconveyor to a carrier entrance shelf (e.g., 940 of FIG. 9). Asillustrated in FIG. 13, a carrier 925 can be pushed onto a carrier liftplatform 940, of the carrier handling station 1300. The carrier liftplatform 940 can be located beneath the vacuum belt pucks 1150. In someembodiments, four operations can be executed to transfer the labels tothe container caps. For example, a set of locators 1302 can engage acontainer carrier 925 securing its position. Container caps can becentered by the cap locating plate 1303 which aligns the caps with thelabels being transported by the vacuum belt pucks. A carrier can beraised by the carrier lift platform 940 so that the container caps arepositioned just below the vacuum belt pucks. Each container can beraised by individual push rods 946 until all containers caps come torest against the adhesive side of the label carrying pucks, which cantransfer the labels to the caps. Operation can then be reversed toprepare a carrier for exit from the carrier handling station 1300. Thelabeled container carrier can be pushed from the carrier lift platform940 onto a discharge conveyor. Movements can be executed by speedregulated pneumatic actuators with, for example, stroke detectionsensors to indicate successful actuation. The pneumatic actuators canhave adjustable strokes as needed. Replaceable cap locating rings 1302can be used on the cap centering plate. A carrier “in position” detectorcan be used to detect and indicate whether a carrier 925 is in theappropriate position in system 1300.

FIG. 14 illustrates an elevation lay-out of some embodiments ofembodiments of a branding system 70. For example, when a carrier 925arrives at a branding station 900 it can be staged on an accumulationconveyor 1420. The carrier ID of a carrier 925 can be read by carrier IDreader 1421 so that a branding station 900 can be informed of whichcarrier is about to be processed. The carrier ID can correspond to a capmap that identifies each bottle by its position in the carrier. Thisinformation can be used so that a branding system 900 knows which bottlecap to brand with which branding information.

After being processed by a branding station 900, a carrier 925 can bedischarged onto to a take away conveyor 1430. An inspection system 1431can be included. Inspection system 1431 can included a four cameravision inspection system that can acquire an image at each row position.System 1431 can use pattern recognition to verify that the correctbranding information has been applied to each bottle. A branding station900 can generate a message to a carrier transport system that reportsthe carrier ID and reports whether each bottle position was correctlybranded.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate drawings of a photographs of two differentviews of an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. Variousembodiments of various components of a system 900 are shown in FIGS. 15and 16. For example, an embodiment of a system 900 including embodimentsof label web 901, take-up dancer assembly 902, tracker feeders 905, diepunch 950, vacuum belt assembly 920, vacuum belt pucks 1150, locators1302, cap locating pate 1303, carrier 925, bottles 926, and carrier liftplatform 940 can been seen in FIG. 15.

FIG. 16 illustrates a different view of the system 900 illustrated inFIG. 15. In particular, the lifting pins 946 can be seen under thecarrier lift platform 940. Also, it can be seen that the carrier 925 isonly half filled, with sixty two of the ninety four possible bottlepositions occupied by capped bottles. Accordingly, in some embodiments,die punch 950 can remove the labels that would be affixed to the missingbottles prior to the label web 901 reaching the peeling bar In addition,vacuum pucks 1150 can be seen more clearly.

Returning to 653 of FIG. 6A, in some embodiments, the caps may bepre-branded and thus, a branding system 900 is not required. In suchembodiments, the systems and methods can direct a bottles and/or bottlecarrier to an appropriate capper and/or cap application chuck. Forexample, a capper can contain either “Co-Branded” caps or PBM caps. Acapper can transmit “Station Type” information (for example, either“Branded” or PBM depending on the type of cap that it dispenses) to acarrier transport system. The carrier transport system can use the“Station Type” information to transport a carrier to an available capperthat can service the carrier's needs. For instance, if the firstavailable capper dispenses “Branded” caps, and the carrier requires“Branded” caps, the carrier can be diverted into that capper. Likewise,if the first available capper dispenses PBM caps, and the carrierrequires PMB caps, the carrier can be diverted into that Capper. If thefirst available Capper does not dispense the type of cap required forthe carrier, that Capper cab be bypassed. The directing may beaccomplished, for example, by using an endless conveyer loop. In someembodiments, the pre-printed caps/containers are stored together and thesystem using various standard detection means to determine theappropriate cap/bottle to be dispensed. In alternative embodiments, thepre-printed caps/containers are stored in separate bin/locations fordispensing. When a branded container is used, similar systems describedhere can be used to deliver the appropriate container/package at thetime of dispensing the medication and/or pharmaceutical. For example, anappropriate container, of various branded containers, can be selectedand loaded into a carrier at a PAL station 14 of FIG. 8. In such anembodiment, a carrier 925, can carry contains of various brandings. Inother embodiments, variously branded containers can be selected andfiled without the use of carriers.

After a carrier arrives at a capper, its bar code ID can be read and thecarrier's ID can be utilized to attain the “Cap Profile” associated withthe carrier directly from a computer, such as a Pharmacy AutomationController (PAC). The Capper can use the “Cap Profile” information toensure that the required bottles (and only the required bottles) areaffixed with the type of cap that it dispenses. The bottle capping maybe controlled by a computer, such as a PAC, which refers to a cap map todetermine the appropriate cap type for each bottle. In this case, thecomputer may control a robot arm to select the correct cap type for eachbottle to be capped in a carrier and then place the cap on the bottle.

In some embodiments, a branding system may print directly oncaps/bottles. For example, a pad printing system can be used that hasdifferent pads for each of the different brands. It is possible,however, that one pad printing machine may have several of the same pad.This can be useful for increasing throughput. In such a system, theaddition of new brands may require new pads to be engraved and the useof fast drying inks may be beneficial. Dynamic printing of various logosis also possible by using, for example, a printing system that can printdirectly on bottle caps.

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of bottle carrier 925 from a top view1710, side view 1720 of four bottles in length, and side view 1730 ofsix bottles in length. As can be seen in view 1730, bottles of variousheights can be accommodated in a single bottle carrier. For example,bottle 1731 is taller than bottle 1732. However, the tops of bothbottles 1731 and 1732 have the same vertical position. The bottlecarrier of FIG. 17 is only illustrative, various types of bottlecarriers can be used.

FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment of an alternative and/or additionalsystem 1800 for capping at, for example, 653 of FIG. 6A. A carrier 925can travel on a carrier conveyor 1820 and be selectively directed toanother conveyor 1830. Carrier flow is indicated by arrows 1890.Conveyor 1830 can bring a carrier 925 into a capping machine 1840 thatincludes a plurality of cap application chucks 1860 being fed by aplurality of vibratory bowl feeders 1850. Each of these vibratory bowlfeeders can contain different cap types and the cap types may be fed toany one of the cap application chucks 1860. The type of cap fed to achuck in 1860 can depend on the capping requirements of a bottle in acarrier 925 as defined by, for example, the cap profile. In otherembodiments, system 1800 can include a printing system 1810, asillustrated in FIG. 18A as 1800A.

Returning to 654 of FIG. 6A, in embodiments where bottles are cappedwith a mix of branded caps and blank caps, at 654, a carrier can beprocessed by, for example, the system illustrated in FIG. 18 and/or by abranding system 900 illustrated in FIG. 9. This can be accomplished bycapping some bottles with blank caps and some with branded caps bydirecting a bottle carrier to various cappers. Then, the bottle carriercan be directed to a branding system 900. The bottles that are cappedwith branded caps can be bypassed by, for example, moving the peel bar904 to the bypass position for the appropriate labels or by punching outselected labels using a die punch 950. In some embodiments, conveyor1820 can be part of or connected to, for example, conveyor 71 of FIG. 8.

Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide various systemsand methods for cap branding verification. For example, in someembodiments, after label application, a carrier 925 exiting the stationcan pass under a vision system, consisting of, for example, fourindependent cameras. The camera system can acquire the applied labelimages across each row of bottles. These images can be compared againsta stored template and the matching image number returned to a controlsystem. Embodiments can also return a no-match value for a label with,for example, a missing, incomplete, or miss-printed image. The controlsystem can determine whether each bottle position image is correct andcan pass the results of the inspection along to a Carrier Conveyorsub-system. The acquired image can be capable of being stored andretrieved for subsequent viewing and comparison against the storedtemplates. The number of stored images can vary, and in someembodiments, may be limited, for example, only by the size of asub-system hard drive.

Various embodiments can compare information from the array of caps incarrier 925 to a cap map. In alternative embodiments, bottle carriersare not used and each bottle can be tracked based on alternativetracking methods, as opposed to a pre-designated location in a carrier.For example, bottles/packages/containers may optionally include meanssuch as additional barcodes, etc. for matching the appropriate cap.These verification methods may confirm that the correct bottle containsthe correct cap. If a mistake is found, that bottle may be sent forcorrection. Verification can take place at various location s. Forexample, referring to FIG. 8, verification can take place, for example,at branding system 200, between branding system 200 and OCP stations 29,at bottle quality assurance area 109, and/or at package qualityassurance area 96. Referring to FIGS. 18 and 18A, verification can takeplace, for example, in the cap verification system 1880. In otherembodiments, such as those where system 1800 is integrated with system310 of FIG. 7, verification can take place in system 710 and/or system1800.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, verification can be performed after method600 of FIGS. 6 and 6A and can use various methods, such as, for example,bar codes, vision systems, and/or RFID. In some embodiments using barcode verification 1901, a bar code, which indicates the brandrequirements, is on the cap. The bar code may be, for example, maxi-codehigh density to limit the space requirements. The scanners can bedownstream of the cap application and labelers, prior to the OCP's 29and carrier rank buffers. The carrier ID is read. The cap mapinformation can be downloaded from PAC to a local controller and/orcomputer to determine the required cap information. As the carrierpasses under the scanners, the bar code can be read and verified. If anID is not properly read, the bottle is flagged for inspection, forexample, by manual inspection. The barcode may be any known in the art,including, for example, a standard 2D bar code.

In some embodiments, vision verification 1902 can be performed. Thisoption is similar to bar code verification 1901, however a vision systemis used to verify the cap branding. In this case, a controller and/orcomputer can be used for data collection and verification. An image ofthe entire array may be taken and compared to the cap map. The systemmay need to, for example, rotate the image from 0 to 360 degrees sincethe caps can be in any position.

In some embodiments, RFID verification 1903 can be performed. Thisoption has an RFID readable tag as part of the label. This tag is uniqueto the brand. Carriers may be handled in the same way as options 1901 or1902. An antenna can pick up the readable signal and determine if theproper brand is on the cap. In this option, there are several approachesthat may be taken, for example, tagging of just the third party brandand none for the pharmacies, or tagging of all brands. Additionally, alogo may be printed on the RFID label.

As described above, when verification, using, for example, theabove-disclosed systems and methods are performed on a bottle carrierand/or a bottle, it is possible that the verification process willdetermine that an error has been found with at least one bottle in thecarrier. For example, a bottle can fail the verification process if theinformation on the cap is the not the information that corresponds tothe bottle. When a mistake is found, it is of benefit to provide systemsand methods that can remedy the situation. Such systems and methods canbe integrated with the above-disclosed subject matter. However, thatthese additional embodiments of the disclosed subject matter need not bepart of the systems and methods described above and in FIGS. 1 through19. Instead the disclosed systems and methods can be used alone or incombination with any suitable systems and methods. Additionally, itshould be noted that in alternative embodiments of the disclosed subjectmatter, manual intervention and/or manual processes can be substitutedfor one or more of the disclosed components. Accordingly, the disclosedsystems and methods can be either automated, manual, or variouscombinations of the two.

Also as described above, bottle quality assurance area 109, of FIG. 8,can have several stations at which a pharmacist can, for example, scanthe bar code on bottles and visually inspect the contents of bottles.The scan of the bottle bar code can bring up a display on thepharmacist's terminal which can includes all the information regardingthe particular prescription and order. Such information can include, forexample, the drug name, and instructions which identify the reason forthe verification. Bottles that pass this inspection can be inserted orreinserted by the pharmacist on a bottle stream conveyer 111 to send theinspected bottles to the BSP station 112. Conveyer 108 can lead to astar wheel or other diverter mechanism 114 which, optionally under thecontrol of a controller for BSP station 112, can deposit the bottle in abottle stream conveyer 116 leading to the bottle quality assurance area109 or into a bottle stream conveyer 118 leading to BSP station 112.Additionally, for example, at a quality assurance area 109 or otherappropriate area, single bottles can be hand filled and capped by, forexample, a pharmacist. These bottles can, for example, be scanned toidentify order and/or branding information, put on a conveyor to a printstation for cap decoration, and sent to a BSP station 112 to be, forexample, bagged.

In some embodiments, when the order is a marriage order requiring someof the order to be manually filled and some of the order to beautomatically filled, a portion of the order to be automatically filledcan be filled by, referring to FIG. 8, the Automatic Dispensing Machines23 capped by the bottle cappers 25, optionally in accordance with theThird Party Dispensing and branding described herein, and inserted intoa bag or shipping container at an OCP station 29 along with theliterature of the order. A bag can be diverted into a waiting tote 99,of FIG. 9 and sent on the conveyer 101, of FIG. 8, to manual packingarea 137 where the rest of the marriage order requiring manualdispensing and packing can be packed with an automatically dispensedportion of the order, if appropriate.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 20, a bag can be dropped from the loadingposition onto an inclined table 102 and can slide under a gate 103 ontoconveyer 95. If a bag is to be sent to the package quality assurancestation 96, the gate 103 will be down to prevent the bag from slidingonto conveyer 95 and the table 102 is pivoted to dump the bag into awaiting tote on conveyer 101. As shown in FIG. 21 if a bar code readerdetects, for example, that an envelope does not correspond to an orderin buffer 113, then this envelope can be packed without bottles and thebag can be diverted into a tote 135 which can be carried by the conveyer101 to the package quality assurance area 96 where the package can bemanually assembled with the correct prescription bottles. The same orsimilar systems and methods can be used and/or adapted to send variouspackages and/or bottles to a quality assurance area 109.

In other embodiments, for example, when an order is a large productionorder requiring, for example, more than four bottles for the order, allitems of the large production order can be found, in some embodiments,in the same rank of carriers and loaded onto a turntable at an OCPstation. In alternative embodiments, bottles can be in differentcarriers and/or carriers are not used. In some embodiments, four bottlesof the order can automatically be inserted into a shipping containeralong with the literature for the order and then this order upon beingbagged can be diverted into a waiting tote which will remain at the OCPstation to receive the rest of the order. The remaining bottles of theorder can then be packed in an additional bag or bags and also divertedinto a tote so that all the bags corresponding to a single large ordercan be assembled in a tote. When the order is complete in the waitingtote, the tote can be sent on the conveyer 101 to the manual packagingarea 137 where the order can receive any manually dispensedprescriptions and can be packed manually into a mailing package forsending to the patient.

One embodiment of combining manual and automated systems and methodsaccording to the disclosed subject matter can be, for example, capping,printing, and verification. In some embodiments, a pharmacist at, forexample, at bottle quality assurance area 109, can fill a bottle with aprescription and insert the bottle, which is possibly in a carrier, in aprinting system such as 1810 or branding system 200. The bottle orcarrier can be inserted, by a pharmacist, into a cap verificationsystem, such as 1880, to be verified. After performing appropriatemethods, the bottle and/or carrier can be inserted or reinserted by thepharmacist on a bottle stream conveyer 111 to send the inspected bottlesto a BSP station 112.

One quality assurance alternative, which can be performed, for example,at bottle quality assurance area 109 is illustrated in FIG. 22.Accordingly, some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter caninclude, for example, branding system 900, cap verification systems1880, printing systems 1810, dispensing machines 23, bottle cappers 25,and/or cap application chunks 1860 at quality assurance area 109.Product can arrive, at 2201, from an OCP station 29, and travel through,at 2202, a BSP station 112. It should be noted that the product can be abottle itself or some number of bottles in a carrier. Additionally,verification can be, for example, performed at a bottle level or acarrier level. Product coming to this location may already have a capapplied and go through verification, at 2240, using for example, barcode 2241, vision 2242, RFID 2243, or manual 2244. It may be required toremove the cap to check the product inside the bottle, in this case, forexample, manual 2244 can be used. If the cap is removed, that same capcan be applied after verification. If it is determined that the bottlehas no problems, at 2205, it can be routed to a BSP station, at 2206.

If it has been determined, for example, that the incorrect cap was puton the bottle, at 2205, it can be determined if the bottle can be fixedat a quality assurance area 109, at 2207. Canceling and rescheduling thebottle, at 2208, can be performed if the bottle cannot be fixed at area109. If so, the bottle and the prescription can be discarded and/or sentfor restocking and the prescription can be rescheduled for filling. Forexample, a new bottle can be dispatched out of the bottle hoppers 37 ofFIG. 8 and the process can be started again. If the mistake can becorrected at quality assurance area 109, then the bottle can becorrected, at 2209. Accordingly, a pharmacist can use embodiments of,for example, branding system 200, printing system 1810 and/or capapplication 1860, at 2209. It should be noted that, 2209 can include,for example, the application of branded caps, the application ofpre-printed third party caps, and/or the printing and application of ondemand caps. Upon correction, the bottle can be sent back to a BSPscanner, at 2202, and onto verification 2240.

In some embodiments, vertical bottle filling and bottle pre-pack can beinter-connected into the above described systems and methods. This canincrease the level of automation, use less packaging, and increase thequality of cap branding. Vertical bottle filling and bottle pre pack canbe integrated at a BSP scanner 112.

Another quality assurance alternative, which can be performed, forexample, at bottle quality assurance area 109 is illustrated in FIG. 23.In this alternative if an order is checked, at 2301, and a problem isfound, the order can be considered for fixing at quality assurance area109. It can be determined, at 2302, if area 109 is able to perform thenecessary functions and has the necessary supplies. If the order cannotbe fixed, it can be canceled and rescheduled, at 2303, as describedabove. If the order can be fixed, it can proceed to be fixed andpackaged at 2304 and 2305. It should be noted that, 2304 can be combinedwith or include, for example, the application of branded caps, theapplication of pre-printed third party caps, and/or the printing andapplication of on demand caps. Packaging, at 2305, can include any typeof appropriate packaging. At, 2360, the bottle can be verified using anyappropriate method, including the disclosed methods of, for example, barcode reading 2361, vision checking 2362, RFID checking 2363, and manualchecking 2364. If the bottle, for example, is correctly capped, it canbe sent, at 2307, to have any appropriate packaging completed at 2308.This may involve routing the bottle to a BSP station 112 to be sent on,for example, to a literature pack sorter 35. If the bottle and/orcarrier is still not correctly filled and labeled, it can reenter theprocess at 2302.

Additional information regarding large volume dispensing, in accordancewith some embodiments, is illustrated in FIG. 24. For example, if theproduct needs to have a branded cap, it may be applied downstream with alabel. This can be performed either manually or automatically.Automatically may require additional capital for a typically low Rxcount. Typically these are larger bottles −250-500 cc range. One optionis to use a pharmacy (e.g., Medco) branded caps and then over-label witha branded label if required. In the finish package function, it ispossible to require a cap scan for verification. In other embodiments,large volume product may be handled in any of the methods describedabove or below.

A pre-pack option, of some embodiments, is illustrated in FIG. 25 andcan be beneficial to pick and place bottles on a conveyor destined forthe ADS BSP. This can automate verification of caps, increase thepacking automation, and reduce the total handling requirements. In thisoperation, bottles can be picked and a cap label applied, eitherpre-printed or printed on demand. Another alternative can be to pick andput on a conveyor, where the bottle bar code can be read and a labelautomatically printed and applied.

In some embodiments, more vertical volume may be directed to theautomated sites if is desired to reduce branding volume in somesituations. This alternative would then be the same or similar to thePre-pack option discussed in reference to FIG. 25, with at least oneexception, at 2610, where caps may be labeled at the verticals, throughuse of a branded cap. This is illustrated in FIG. 26.

In some embodiments, another option is putting in ADS controls. Severalalternatives may be considered, such as, for example, moving all pillcount to one of the automated pharmacies, not branding, or applyingmanually with or without secondary inspection. This is illustrated inFIG. 27.

An additional option that can be used, for example, for narcotics isillustrated in FIG. 28. This alternative, for example, is to not brand,or apply manually with or without secondary inspection.

Alternative verification processes, for use in some embodiments, areillustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30. Such embodiments can require cap removaland replacement. A concern is that there can be a potential for mix-upafter verification. This may be part of the checking process, matchingthe label with the cap, however, one typically does not want to slowdown the pharmacist performing this function. If the vertical routelisted above is selected, these must be filled by a pharmacist, but theymay not need product verification. Another option is to select single oronly bottle orders, to be picked or filled and routed to BSP. If theyrequire PV, it can be routed to quality assurance, for a Pharmacist toinspect. The cap verification and the packing functions can be automatedor manual. This alternative can have the benefit of automation, as wellas less tote handling and set-up by support personnel.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, sincenumerous modifications and variations will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction and operation illustrated and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the invention.

For example, the specific sequence of the above-described process may bealtered so that certain processes are conducted in parallel orindependent, with other processes, to the extent that the processes arenot dependent upon each other. Thus, the specific order of stepsdescribed herein are not to be considered implying a specific sequenceof steps to perform the above-described process. Other alterations ormodifications of the above processes are also contemplated. For example,further insubstantial approximations of the above equations, processesand/or algorithms are also considered within the scope of the processesdescribed herein.

1. A method for branding at least one medication container associatedwith at least one of a prescription and medication order comprising:transporting at least one first medication container and secondmedication container to one of a first capper system and a second cappersystem based on customer information associated with the at least onefirst and second medication containers; and capping at least one of theat least one first and second medication containers with one of a firstcap with first branding and a second cap with second branding based onthe customer information.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customerinformation corresponds with medication containers based on theirlocation in a container carrier.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinbranding comprises branding information representing a health careentity.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein branding information comprisesat least one of a logo, graphics, artwork and text related to the healthcare entity.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the medication containercomprises at least one of a bottle and a package, and wherein the capcomprises at least one of a cover, lid, top, plug, stopper, seal and aclosure.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by acontrol system, based on the customer information associated with the atleast one first and second medication containers, at least one of: whichof the first capper system and the second capper system to transport theat least one first medication container and second medication containerto; which of the first branding and the second branding to print on theat least one first cap and the at least one second cap by the one of thefirst capper system and the second capper system; and which of the oneof the first cap with first branding and the second cap with secondbranding to cap the at least one of the at least one first and secondmedication containers with; and controlling said transporting and saidcapping by said control system responsive to said determining.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein transporting of the at least one firstmedication container and second medication container comprises the useof a transport system having at least one of a conveyor and a containercarrier.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying that thecorrect cap is secured to the at least one of the at least one first andsecond medication containers by employing at least one of a bar codesystem, a Radio Frequency Identification system, and a vision system, toconfirm the correct capping based on the customer information associatedwith the at least one first and second medication containers.
 9. Amethod for branding at least one medication container associated with atleast one of a prescription and medication order comprising:transporting at least one first medication container and secondmedication container to a capper system; and capping at least one of thefirst and second medication containers with one of a first cap of firstbranding and a second cap of second branding based on customerinformation associated with the at least one first and second medicationcontainers, wherein the first medication container and second medicationcontainer are capped with caps of different branding.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the customer information corresponds with medicationcontainers based on their location in a container carrier.
 11. Themethod of claim 9, wherein branding comprises branding informationrepresenting a health care entity.
 12. The method of claim 9, whereinbranding information comprises at least one of a logo, graphics, artworkand text related to the health care entity.
 13. The method of claim 9,wherein the medication container comprises at least one of a bottle anda package, and wherein the cap comprises at least one of a cover, lid,top, plug, stopper, seal and a closure.
 14. The method of claim 9,further comprising: determining, by a control system, based on thecustomer information associated with the at least one first and secondmedication containers, at least one of: whether to transport the atleast one first medication container and second medication container tothe capper system; which of the first branding and the second brandingto print on the at least one first cap and the at least one second capby the capper system; and which of the one of the first cap with firstbranding and the second cap with second branding to cap the at least oneof the at least one first and second medication containers with; andcontrolling said transporting and said capping by said control systemresponsive to said determining.
 15. The method of claim 9, whereintransporting of the at least one first medication container and secondmedication container comprises the use of a transport system having atleast one of a conveyor and a container carrier.
 16. The method of claim9, further comprising verifying that the correct cap is secured to theat least one of the at least one first and second medication containersby employing at least one of a bar code system, a Radio FrequencyIdentification system, and a vision system, to confirm the correctcapping based on the customer information associated with the at leastone first and second medication containers.
 17. A method for branding atleast one medication container associated with at least one of aprescription and medication order comprising: determining, by a controlsystem, based on customer information associated with at least onemedication container, at least one of: whether to transport the at leastone medication container to a capper system; which of a first brandingand a second branding to print on at least one cap of a plurality ofcaps, if any, by the capper system; and which of one of a cap of firstbranding, a cap of second branding, and an unbranded cap to cap the atleast one medication container with; transporting, responsive to saiddetermining by the control system, the at least one medication containerto the capper system; and capping, responsive to said determining by thecontrol system, the at least one medication container with one of thecap of first branding, the cap of second branding, and the unbrandedcap.